The Toulmin method is a tool for creating a good argument and analyzing other’s argument. We will know the connections the author makes to get to his or her point.
Through this deconstructing method, we will have a clearer picture of the author’s flow of argument.
This will be a good tool for my thesis.
The Method
The Toulmin method has, generally, six (6) elements.
Claim
Grounds
Warrant
Backing
Qualifier
Rebuttal
The claim is what the author fights for. It is his or her stand or position on a subject matter. The grounds are the various data to support the claim. The warrant is the connection of the grounds to the claim. The backing is the support for the warrant. The qualifier puts certain limitations or conditions on the warrant. The rebuttal is a set of counter-data (i.e., which are against the author’s claim) that the author acknowledges to be valid.
An Example
I claim that all people are inherently good. My ground is that people help each other in times of crisis. My warrant is that being helpful is a trait of goodness. My backing for the warrant is that helpfulness motivates other people to help others also.
Now, as a qualifier for my warrant, there may be circumstances where being helpful is undesirable. And a rebuttal for my claim could be that people are capable of evil actions, actions that are done deliberately with no remorse.
Since last week, I have been implementing calendar blocking, so as to maximize the studying time I have each day. I was inspired to get my life in order and finish my master’s (Jordan Peterson, you rock!). I researched about time management techniques on YouTube, until I clicked on some block scheduling (or calendar blocking) videos.
Yeah, I know. I know. It’s common sense. I should have done this eons ago. But, hey, I’m not perfect and like most people, I’m the kind of person that needs push and inspiration to do certain tasks. So, again, better late than never. And it’s not like this is my first time implementing time management techniques.
The great thing about calendar blocking is the ability to block out times for certain themes. Instead of scheduling a multitude of tasks, for example, they will just be combined into a single category, then I block out a time for it.
Now, to the fun part.
What I did was to block out some portions of my time each day. As you can see from the photo, I implemented a morning block. The time starts when my alarm rings. It is when I do my morning prayer (meditation), have a breakfast, and do other menial things.
At 8:00 am, on Mondays to Saturdays, I go to my room and immerse myself for my thesis. I call it Master’s Thesis block. It is all about my thesis (reading, writing, researching, etc.). All in all, I allotted four and a half hours to five and a half hours each day (Mondays to Fridays) for my thesis. On Saturdays, I allotted only two hours for it.
I also have block times for class preparation, spiritual reading and general reading. Break times, which I named Enjoy!, are also included, of course.
I designed my block schedule to be uniform as much as possible. On Sundays, because of teaching work, my blocks are obviously different. Scheduling for it is primarily subject-based.
I hope that I will be faithful in following the schedule I set for myself. My block schedule is still a work in progress, as I try to experiment on the best block times and themes.
P.S. I also applied other time management techniques. The Pomodoro technique and the Eisenhower Matrix come to mind.
I’m XhenEd, and this is my blog. I won’t state my real name here as I intend to be semi-anonymous.
This is not my first blog. I had created a few blogs in the past, but they were never successful. Hopefully, with this one, given my fresh perspective about blogging, I won’t be overwhelmed by blogging expectations.
I’m 26 years old. Single. Male. Religious. Introvert. INFP. Melancholic-Choleric. Lover of theology and philosophy. A resident of Tagum City, Davao del Norte, Philippines.
Since 2017, I’ve been a part-time College Instructor, hired to teach philosophy subjects. Mostly, I teach basic logic and ethics. But there are instances where I teach subjects not in line with philosophy. This is okay. At least, I’m learning new things.
Since 2015, I’ve been a graduate student of the Ateneo de Davao University, my alma mater. I’m currently taking up master’s in philosophy. Just last year, in September, I passed my comprehensive exam. This month, I will be enrolling for my thesis.
This blog is a personal blog. I’m keeping this to track my progress as a graduate student. It will mainly be about my thoughts on my master’s thesis. This is also to force me to write and think more deeply. There might also be documentation (photos and videos) about my thesis journey. My focus will be on St. Edith Stein’s phenomenology of empathy.
As you may have noticed, the title of the blog is Empathy. Empathy here does not connote the typical meaning. For Edith Stein, empathy is not an emotion or feeling, but an experience. Indeed, it is an experience of the other’s experience. This is the term I wish to explore. Empathy is mainly discussed in Edith Stein’s On the Problem of Empathy, her PhD dissertation. I wish to analyze empathy and see it in the perspective of the young Edith. This is a phenomenological analysis of empathy.
If you like the saint, or like to explore her concept of empathy, or just inclined in the field of phenomenology, then you’re welcome to read my blog. Or if you just like to journey with me in my thesis writing, then feel free to be my follower. Beware, though, my blog might be very philosophical. But I do wish my blog to be interactive. You may comment on my posts. Constructive criticisms are always welcome on my blog.
Note, though, that I’m not an expert. I know much about philosophy because that’s my field, but I do not claim to be an expert. I’m a master’s student. There’s still so much to learn. Also, my apologies for my noobish blogging. I’ll try to be good at blogging, but I intend not to fall into the trap of too much expectation of blogging. I’m trying to avoid being overwhelmed again.
My goal for this blog is to see the development of my thoughts and ideas. I will post until I earn my master’s degree in philosophy.
Empathy 